Bottle-filling apparatus.



A A. OARPER. BOTTLE FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..4,1912.

Patented Dec; 3, 1914.

A. A. CARPBR.

BOTTLE FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.4,1912.

Patented Dec. 8, 19.14.

3 SHEBTSSHEBT 3.

irl/Ania Z V /Ar/ ALBERT ALFRED CAREER, F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNORTO THE CROWN COBK 8: SEAL COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BOTTLE-FILLING APPARATUS.

sensor.

Specification 01! Letters Patent.

latentezil Dec. 8, 191%.

Patent of the United States, filed by me December 1, 1908 #465533.

in my present invention I provide improved means for adjusting theposition of the vent tube in relation to the bottle for filling todifferent heights and improved means for cutting off the venting andregulating the size of the venting orifice to meet different conditions,as for instance. of the character of material being supplied to thebottle and the gaseous pressure.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangementof parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 s a vertical sectional viewthrough a filling mead of a bottling machine and associated parts,embodying my invention, and With i vent tube raised above the bottlewhen upper end is in the filling chamber. Fig. s a vievv similar to Fig.1 of some of the its there shown but with the vent tube in lowestposition. Fig. 3 is a view on a larger scale, of the vent tube, itscarrier leeve, the stop sleeve, needle valve and associate features,this view being a section taken a quarter turn from that of Figs. 1 and'2. 3 is a detail vievv. Fig. l is a sectional plan view substantiallyon the line l--t of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 18 a cross section of Fig. 3 on theline 5-5. Fig. 6 is a plan view of an abutment ring.

in the particular machine selected for illustrating an embodiment of myinvention, 1 represents the filling head having lower end a rubbergasket 2, mounta' ring 3, which is vertically movable, suspended by avertical pintle 4, in t e housing. This gasket, when the ring is iscompressed and thus its opening is of less diameter than that of thehead of the bottle, in order to provide a gas-tight contact therewithand also with the neck beloiv the bottle. The position of the bottleyvhen ready for filling is shownin Fig. 2, it being understood that thebottle is presented to the filling head in any suitable manner, forinstance, as shown in Letters Patent of the United States #101298,granted to me December 26, 1911.

In bottling liquids under pressure such as carbonated waters, andparticularly when the liquids are discharged into a filling chamberwherein the head of the bottle is located while being filled and capped,provision should be made for the escape, from the bottle, of the airtherein, and also for the escape of a certain amount of gas, with whichthe liquid is charged. Provision should. also be made to regulate therate of venting, to vent from different heights within the bottle and tostop the venting at the proper times. As a means for venting I employ avent tube to occupy a prede termined position with its lower end Withinthe bottle, or any one of a number of such positions according to theheight it is desired to fill the bottle, the said vent tube beingmovable from the bottle to permit it to be closed or capped While undergaseous pressure.

The means for closing the bottle when filled may be of various forms,but in the particular machine shown, this consists of a capping tool 5,of the form shown in the patent above referred to, and While the capfeeding means and the means for sealing the cap port may be varied,these means, in the machine chosen for illustrating my invention, may bealso of the forms shown in said patent, consisting generally of anoscillating cap feed chute 6 to convey the caps from a hopper 7 anddirect them through the cap port 8, into the filling head to besupported at one side of the center of the filling chamber, but with theflange overhanging to be struck by the bottle as the latter is raised tothe capping tool after filling. to thereby release. the cap from itsretaining means, as will be hereinafter described, the cap after beingso released, being projected over the mouth of the bottle by a springpressed finger 9 carried by a pad block 10, which is employed to closethe cap port gas-tight during the filling and capping of the bottle. Thecap having been thrust into position over the bottle will be carried uptherewith and affixed thereto by contact with the tapered capping tool5.

Before the capping operation takes place the vent tube, ofcourse, mustbe raised from the bottles.

lVhile the raising and lowering of the vent tube may be accomplished invarious ways in the machine shown, I employ a cam 11, on a shaft 12, anda lever 13, pivotally mounted on the frame at 1%. This lever isconnected by a link 15 with a tubular carrier 16, into the head of whicha-tube 17 is screwed. This tube forms the extension or stem of the venttube. It is screw threaded at its lower end into a coupling or socketpiece 18, to which the vent tube is also connected. For this purpose anipple 19 is screwed into the lower end of the socket piece and the venttube is screwed into the nipple and up against a packing Washer 20seated in the nipple. The lower end of the venttube passes through thecapping plunger 21, suitable packing being employed at 22 around thevent tube and held in place by the nipple 23, Figs. 3, 3

The stem 24 of the capping plunger is hollow and contains the vent tube,its tubular extension and the coupling socket.

The vent tube is under pressure of a spring 25, bearing at its upper endon a cap 26, screw threaded into the upper end of the stem of thecapping plunger and at its lower end upon the socket or coupling piece18.

. This spring causes the vent tube to move This adjustable sleeve may beset at diflerdown when the low art of the cam 11 comes opposite therolleron the end of the lever 13, so that the tube will be positionedwith its lower end at the'point predetermined upon within the bottle.This position is variable at the will of the operator according to theheight it is desired to fill the bottle.

Various means may be employed for determining and varying the positionof the vent tube, but in the machine shown I em ploy an adjustablesleeve 27 outside of the stem of the capping plungerand within thetubular sleeve or carrier 16 for the vent tube.

ent heights along the stem of the capping plunger for which purpose itslower end, headed at 28, is split at 29, Figs. 3 and 4 and clamped byscrews 30 to the said stem. By

loosening the screws the clamp is released to ermit the adjustment ofthe sleeve vertically, suitable graduations being provided on the stemto accord with the different po sitions the lowerend of the vent tubemay occupy in relation to the bottle. WVhen now the vent tube moves downunder the action of the spring 24, the cam 11 having brought its lowpart to the lever 13, it will be arrested, when its lower end reachesthe de sired position within the bottle, by the lower end of the tubularcarrier 10 coming in contact with the head 28 of the adjustable sleevewhich therefore acts as a stop. It is desir able to cut off the ventingby a valve cooperating with the vent .tube. This may be accomplished invarious ways. In the machine shown a valve 31, preferably of conical orneedle form, is arrangedto close or open a small orifice 32 in the valveseat block held within the nipple 19, which as "before mentioned,connects the vent tube with the socket block or coupling. -The valvemember is connected by its screw threaded shankto a valve stem 33, whichextends up through and above the tubular extension of the vent tube,where it is connected to a weight 34. This weight has a depending flangeembracing and guided by the upper end of tubular carrier 16, or outersleeve to which the vent tube extension is connected as above described.The connection of the valve stem with the weight is an adjustable one,the stem being screw threaded into the weight and having a finger piece35 by which it may be turned for adjustment and a wing nut 36 by whichthe said stem may be set in the position to which it is adjusted. Theweight carries pins 37, which, when the vent tube is moved down, willstrike upon a plate-38 at the upper end of the adjustable stop sleeve27, just before the vent tube reaches the low position for which theparts are adjusted and thus, because of the continued downward movementof the vent tube and valve .seat, open the valve for the escape of theair and gas through the vent tube from the interior of the bottle. Theoutlet or outlets for the gas and air may be variously arranged. In themachine shown the outlet consists of a lateral port or ports 39, 40, inthe socket or coupling piece 18 and the stem of the capping plunger andthence into the housing of the filling chamber and out through asuitably disposed port leading from the said housing. The lower portionof the socket or coupling piece is of reduced diameter to maintainconnection between the outlet ports as the vent tube and socket orcoupling piece are raised,

By the adjustment of the valve stem of the needle or conical valve, ifsuch be used, a larger or smaller escape opening may be provided throughthe valve seat, when the vent tube reaches the low osition for which theparts are adjusted, t ereby regulating the rapidity of the escape of gasand air and the speed-of filling with the least possible.

mamas? the screws 42 to clamp the head about the threaded tubularextension of the vent tube.

A screw 43 prevents the weight 34: and valve stem from dropping from thetubular carrier should, for any reason this be removed and turned upsidedown in handling.

The capping plunger, as usual, may be pressed downwardly by a snring ii.

The operation briefly described is as fol lows: Referring to, Fig. 2, inwhich the bottle is shown in position for filling, it will be understoodthat the bottle head and gasket are in gas tight contact; the vent ican, tig

tube is down with its lower end within the bottle, at approximately theline or level to which the bottle is to be filled, this point beingvariable at the will of the operator by adjusting the stop sleeve 27,28, as above described; the syrup and charged water are progressivelydelivered through the port l5 into the bottle; the air and gas displacedfrom the bottle by the liquid begins to pass ofi through the vent tubeand as the pressure in the filling chamber rises the venting through thetube is proportionately increased and to a degree which will preventsuch a rise of pressure in the filling chamber as would obstruct theinflow of liquid, thus assuring a rapid fill; the liquid on reaching thelower end of the vent tube cuts off the further escape of gas and isitself vented, but slowly, and in such small quantity that the pressurein the filling chamber is promptly raised to a degree which will holdback the gas charged liquid in its duct and arrest its further deliveryinto filling chamber; the water valve controlling said duct is stillopen, as in the applicat n abov referred to; the vent tube it d and as aconsequence the valve 3 seated. thus positively and co1n p c1 ting oil?the venting; the bottle head and neck is now forced into the fillingchamber until the bottle releases the cap at cap port; the spring lingerforces the cap over the bottle head which continuing its upward mo ementcarries the cap up into compressing contact with the cap plunthusinitially, by the packing in the i I closing the bottle just before, orabout at, the time the water closes and completely cuts the furtherdelivery of gas charged li-tpiid to the filling chamber. The iottle isthus instantly closed while its contents are under the full gaseouspressure because it is closed before the water valve cuts the pressurefrom the filling chamber. The continued upward movement of the bottlecauses the capping tool to lock the cap to the bottle, and the liftingof the capping plunger by the bottle enables the gas to escape from thefilling chamber into the housing above the capping tool and thence to asuitable waste pipe leading off from the filling head housing and which,

sun

at all times receives the gas and whatever small quantity of liquid isvented through the tube.

It will be understood from the above that the level to which the bottlewill be filled is determined by adiusting the vent tube so that itslower end will occupy the proper position within the bottle, higher orlower according as the bottle is to be filled to a greater or lessheight, the cessation of the gas and air venting and the rise of thepressure within the filling chamber taking place when the liquid risesin the bottle to the end of the vent tube, and the slow venting of theliquid being completely out ofi by the raising of the vent tube, forexample, one sixteenth of an inch. As above stated the needle valve maybe adjusted to occupy a position more or less distant from its seat whenthe vent tube is down regulating the degree of venting and consequentlythe rapidity of fill.

It will be understood that while the filling and capping of the bottleis being done the filling chamber must be closed gas tight, variousforms and arrangements of devices may be employed for this purpose, butin the machine shown the gasket 2, above mentioned, is employed to makegas tight contact with the bottle and the pad-block 10 is employed toclose the cap port. As an example of means for operating these parts andalso for operating the cap chute I show a lever 46 pivoted to thehousing and having pins, one of which is shown at 47, to bear on thelugs on the gasket compressor ring 3, for raising this ring andcompressing the gasket into gas tight contact with the bottle when thelever is swung upwardly. The lever is raised by a cam, not shown, on themain shaft of the machine, through a rod The lever has the pad-block 10mounted pivotally thereon and a spring 49 presses the pad-block forwardso that it will have resilient contact with the housing about the capport when moved thereto by the raising of the lever 48'. The cap chuteis retired from the cap port after having deposited a cap therein topermit the padblock to seal the same gas tight, by a link device, one ofthe links being shown at 50, connected with a bell-crank lever 51,pivoted to the cap chute at 52, which bell-crank lever carries a springpin 53 which bears on the lowermost cap in the chute and retains itinposition, thus holding all the caps in the chute while the cap chuteis retired.

After the cap, which has been deposited in the cap port, is applied tothe bottle by the vertical movement thereof, the lever 46 is moveddownwardly. This will release the gasket 2 fromncompression, allowing itto open for the downward movement of the capped bottle; "the pad-blockretires from the cap port and the cap chute advent tube and therebymoving the seat to or from the valve for 'closing or opening vances tosaid port to deliver a cap into position in the filling head for thenext capping operation, it being understood that in the advance of thecap chute the spring the lower end thereof a strainer of wire gauze 56to prevent extraneous matter as cork wood'particle-s from being carriedby the strong draft of escaping gas and air from the bottle up into thevent tube, which would result in clogging the said tube and therebyprevent the bottle from filling to the proper height.

1. In a bottle filling machine, and in bination, a filling chamber,which is sealed -I claim z. 1

com-

by the bottle when the bottle is in position to be filled, a vent tubemovable through the filling chamber into and from the bottle, a valvemovable with the vent tube and also --movable. in relation thereto, aseat for the valve movable 'with the vent tube, and means formechanically controlling said valve by the movement of the vent tube toopen when the vent tube isilowered and to close when the vent tube israised.

2. In a bottle filling'machine and in com bination, a filling chamberwhich is'sealed by the bottle when the bottle is. in position to befilled, a vent tube movable through v the filling chamber into and fromthe bottle,

a. valve controlling the passage through the vent tube andhaving a seaton the vent tube, means for ralsing and lowering the the vent tube, saidvalve being adjustable in relation to its seat on the vent tube toallowmore or less venting, substantially as described. a

1 3. In a bottle filling machine, and in combination, a filling chamberwhich is sealed by the bottle when the bottle is in position to befilled, avent tube movable through the filling chamber into and from thebottle,

a valve movable with the vent tube and "also movable in relationthereto, a seat for the valve movable with the vent tube, and

means for mechanically controlling said valve by the movement of thevent tube to open when the vent. tube is lowered and to close when thevent tube is raised, said valve being arranged axially of the vent tube,substantially as described.

4. In combination in a bottle filling machine, a filling chamber whichis sealed by the bottle when the bottle is in position to be filled, avent tube movable in relation to the filling chamber, means for raisingand lowering the vent tube, a valve controlling the passage through thevent tube, said valve moving with the vent tube with means for arrestingthe valve as the vent tube approaches its lower limit to open theventing passage, substantially as described.

'5. In combinati in a bottle filling machine, a filling oh%iber which issealed by the bottle when the bottle is in position to be filled, a venttube, a carrier therefor, means for raising and lowering the carrier,

a needle valve controlling the passagethrough the vent tube, and movingwith the vent tube and its carrier, with means for arresting the valveto. open the vent tube as the latter approaches its lower limit,substantially as described. {a

6. In combination in a bottle filling machine, a filling chamber whichis sealed by the bottle when thg; bottle is in position to be filled, avent tube movableto and from position within the bottle, a carrier, atubular extension of the vent tube connected with the carrier, means forraising and lowering the carrier, a valve controlling the passagethrough the vent tube and having a stem extending-through the vent tubeextension and means for arresting the stem to open the valve as the venttube approaches its lower. limit, substantially as described.

7. In combination with a filling chamber which is sealed by the bottlewhen the bottle is in position to be filled,'.a vent tube movablevertically therethrough, a carrier movable vertically and connected withthe vent tube, a valve controlling the passage through the vent tube,and adjustablestop means acting to arrest the downward movement of thevent tube and also to arrest the movement of the valve just prior to thetermination of the downward movement of the vent tube toopen said venttube, substantially as described.

8..In combination with a filling chamber which is sealed by the bottlewhen the bottle 4 is in position tobe filled, a capping plunger thereinhaving a tubular stem, a spring for pressing the capping plungerdownwardly, a vent tube extending through the capping plunger and havingan extension above the stem of the capping plunger, a carrier sleeveconnected with the stem of the vent tube and slidably mounted outside ofjthe stem of the capping plunger, a valve controlling the passagethrough the vent tube 25 limitthe downward movement of the vent 1:0

tube and to arrest the downward movement of the valve to open the venttube prior to the termination of its downward movement, substantially asdescribed.

9. In combination with a filling chamber which is sealed by the bottlewhen the bottle is in position to be filled, a venttube mow abletherethrough, a carrier for raising and lowering the vent tube, aweighted valve for controlling the vent tube; and means for arrestingthe'weighted valve in its downward movement prior to the termination ofthe downward movement of the vent tube,

' substantially as described.

10. In combination with a filling chamber which is sealed by the bottlewhen the bottle is in position to be filled, a vent tube movabletherethrough, a capping plunger having a stem provided with a lateralport adjacent the upper end of the vent tube, said capping plungerhaving a tubular stem, a valve controlling the opening at the upper endof the vent tube adjacent the lateral port, a carrier for the vent tube,and means for raising the valve as the vent tube and carrier approachtheir lower limit of movement to thereby open the vent tube,substantially as described.

11. In combination with a filling chamber which is sealed b y the bottlewhen the bottle is in position to be filled, a vent tube movabletherethrough, a vertically movable carrier connected with the vent tube,a valve to control the vent tube having a stem, a block in which saidstem is adjustably mounted, and means for arresting the block and valvewhen the vent tube approaches the lower limit of its movement,substantially as de scribed.

12. In combination with a filling chamber which is sealed by the bottlewhen the bottle is in position to be filled, a vent tube movabletherethrough, a carrier for the vent tube, a valve controlling the venttube, a stop sleeve having a portion at its lower end arrest the carrierand a portion at its upper end to arrest the movement of the valve,substantially as described.

13. In combination with a filling chamber which is sealed by the bottlewhen the bottle is in position to be filled, a vent tube movabletherethrough and having its stem extending upwardly, a carrier sleeveconnected with said stem, a. valve extending through the stem of thevent tube and controlling the outlet port of said vent tube, a stopsleeve having a lower portion to arrest the carrier sleeve and meansconnected with the valve stem to strike upon the upper end of the saidstop sleeve for arresting the valve, substantially as described.

14. In combination with a filling chamber which is sealed by the bottlewhen the bottle is in position to be filled, a vent tube, means formoving the vent tube into and out of lot from the vent tube, said valvethe bottle, and a valve controlling the outmoving with the vent tube,and means for effecting the opening and closing of the valve, substantially as described.

15. In a bottle filling machine, a filling chamber which is sealed bythe bottle when the bottle is in position to be filled, ent tube movablethrough the filling ch nber, mechanism to move the vent tube into andout of the bottle to any one of a plurality of venting positions, avalve controlling the action of the vent tube, said valve moving withthe vent tube and also movable in re lation thereto, and means foropening and closing the valve mechanically at different elevatedpositions of the vent tube.

16. In a bottle filling machine a filling chamber with which the bottlemakes sealing connection when in position to be filled, a vent tube,means to move the vent tube to its operative and inoperative positionswith respect to the bottle, a valve adapted to regulate the ventingcapacity of the said tube, and mechanism adapted to open the said valvewhen the vent tube is in its operative position.

1?. In a bottle filling machine a filling chamber with which the bottlemakes sealing connection when in position to be filled, a vent tube,means to move the vent tube to any one of a plurality of operativepositions Within the bottle, a valve controlling the action of the venttube, and mechanism to open the said valve when the tube is in operativeposition, the said valve and valve mechanism including means whereby theventing capacity of the said tube" may be regulated.

18. In combination with the filling chamber of a bottle filling machine,which is sealed by the bottle when in position to be filled, a venttube, means for moving the tube through the filling chamber into andfrom the bottle, a valve moving with the vent tube and also movable inrelation thereto, a seat for said valve also movable with the vent tubeand means mechanically opening said valve when the vent tube is loweredand closing said valve when the vent tube is raised.

19. In combination in a bottle filling machine, a filling chamber whichis sealed by the bottle when the bottle is in position to be filled, avent tube, means for moving the same through the filling chamber intoand from the bottle, a valve controlling the passage through the venttube, and means mechanically holding the valve open while the vent tubeis in venting position for the continuous escape of the gas, and closingthe valve when the vent tube is raised, substantially as described.

20. In combination in a bottle filling machine, a filling chamber whichis sealed by the bottle when the bottle is in position to be filled, avent tube movable in relation to the filling chamber and into and fromth bottle, means for raising and lowering the vent tube, a valve movablewith the vent tube and controlling the passage therethrough, said valvebeing continuously open when the tube is in venting position and beingclosed when it is moved up therefrom, substantially as described. 10

In testimony whereof, I afiix. my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

ALBERT ALFRED QARPER. Witnesses:

H. W. LAITHIJ,

HOWARD S. Grams.

